Amusing comedy drama that alternates between being a mockery of greed in the sports world and romantic comedy. Tom Cruise, in one of his best roles, plays sports agent Jerry Maguire. He is tired of the cynicism in the sports world. When he gets fired and is starting his own business, it is only two who believe in him to succeed. A secretary (Renée Zellweger) and a promising player (Cuba Gooding Jr.) in American football. The questions then become two: Will Jerry Maguire get back together with the secretary, who is a single mother? Is the football player going to become a star? The film was nominated for many awards, including best film, but only Cuba Gooding Jr. won an Oscar, then for Best Supporting Actor. Cameron Crowe's film is filled with so much humor, charm and warmth, that it does not matter that it is a bit predictable.
Reviews
12 Reviews
WALL·E
(2008)
Moving robot movie
13 July 2013
You can hardly blame the gang at Pixar to chicken out and go for safe bets. It has been invested over ten million dollars on a computer-animated children's film that is highly critical of civilization. It is set 700 years into the future. People have been consuming and nearly eaten themselves to death. The few survivors live on a space station and is so fat that they slide around in portable chairs and absorbs nutrients. And down on earth the state is even worse.
All that is left is a small red cleaning robot, WALL-E (stands for Waste Allocation Load Lifter: Earth class), powered by solar energy and vigor collects debris into small piles that become skyscraper-like towers. His only companion is a cockroach. Through various tours, he ends up on the space station and eventually everything comes to an edge, can you save the earth and mankind?
All that is left is a small red cleaning robot, WALL-E (stands for Waste Allocation Load Lifter: Earth class), powered by solar energy and vigor collects debris into small piles that become skyscraper-like towers. His only companion is a cockroach. Through various tours, he ends up on the space station and eventually everything comes to an edge, can you save the earth and mankind?
The Way Way Back
(2013)
Engaging heat
12 July 2013
The writers of "The descendants" directing debut is a story about a dysfunctional family's vacation at a seaside resort on the U.S. east coast. While all parents partying in a kind of continual spring break for-adults, the children have to cope as best they can. 14-year-old Duncan (Liam James) is forced to join by his mother (Toni Collette), who wants to spend time with her new love (Steve Carell). A self-centered asshole who flirts with others and think Duncan is completely pointless. "On a scale of 1 to 10, you are no more than a 3," he said to him. Duncan acquire self-confidence through a summer job at the water park and through friendship with the girl next door. Eventually all conflicts reset to a head. A film that does not break new ground. But that engages with its heat, black humor and brilliant acting.
World War Z
(2013)
A typical zombie movie with unusual budget
12 July 2013
Most zombie movies are trying to have a unique approach. As Norwegian "Dead Snow" (2009), who was the first with Nazi zombies. Danny Boyle, best known for "Trainspotting" (1996) and Oscar winner "Slumdog Millionaire" (2008), was in "28 Days Later" first with zombies that are not dragging themselves through life, but was fast as hell. A real shock for all zombie fans the first time the film was shown.
"World War Z" has zombies running so fast that Usain Bolt would be eliminated already in the trial heats. Furthermore, they are many. Too many. It appears a little too obvious that it is computer animated zombies climbing on each other like ants up the walls and barricades. The film was preceded by disaster rumors, including after an informed article in Vanity Fair. It was about a budget that is constantly rising. About a discord between the film's director Marc Forster and star/producer Brad Pitt. About an super expensive final third set in Russia and that has been completely discarded in favor of a totally different ending. It required several well-paid screenwriter to find. And so on.
Many great films suffer similar rumors. They are not always true. And "World War Z" is by no means a disaster. Initially and finally, really good. In the portrayal of the chaos that occurs in the middle of an American city when the zombie epidemic breaks out. And the bare tension that arises when Brad Pitt's UN inspector Gerry Lane in a sophisticated way try to fool a small number of zombies who have barricaded themselves in a research institute where a possible cure for the epidemic can be. It creates scenes that sends shivers through intimacy and silence. Otherwise, you can hardly blame "World War Z" to be a small film. When Brad Pitt's UN inspector travels around the world, it's thousands of zombies just everywhere, as if the whole world had been infected in a few hours. A bit silly. Besides Pitt, it is also just one person in general who makes a impression, a tough female soldier (Daniella Kertesz).
Eventually, "World War Z" is becoming as any other zombie film, only more lavish.
"World War Z" has zombies running so fast that Usain Bolt would be eliminated already in the trial heats. Furthermore, they are many. Too many. It appears a little too obvious that it is computer animated zombies climbing on each other like ants up the walls and barricades. The film was preceded by disaster rumors, including after an informed article in Vanity Fair. It was about a budget that is constantly rising. About a discord between the film's director Marc Forster and star/producer Brad Pitt. About an super expensive final third set in Russia and that has been completely discarded in favor of a totally different ending. It required several well-paid screenwriter to find. And so on.
Many great films suffer similar rumors. They are not always true. And "World War Z" is by no means a disaster. Initially and finally, really good. In the portrayal of the chaos that occurs in the middle of an American city when the zombie epidemic breaks out. And the bare tension that arises when Brad Pitt's UN inspector Gerry Lane in a sophisticated way try to fool a small number of zombies who have barricaded themselves in a research institute where a possible cure for the epidemic can be. It creates scenes that sends shivers through intimacy and silence. Otherwise, you can hardly blame "World War Z" to be a small film. When Brad Pitt's UN inspector travels around the world, it's thousands of zombies just everywhere, as if the whole world had been infected in a few hours. A bit silly. Besides Pitt, it is also just one person in general who makes a impression, a tough female soldier (Daniella Kertesz).
Eventually, "World War Z" is becoming as any other zombie film, only more lavish.
The Break-Up
(2006)
Accurate observations
12 July 2013
A film where the film itself kinda soaked in gossip about the protagonists Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn were together for real or not. The film itself is a bit tragic form of romantic comedy, though pretty full of accurate observations about a couple who broke up, but are forced to live together for practical reasons.
Many good actors even in other roles: Joey Lauren Adams, Cole Hauser, Judy David, Jon Favreau, Jason Bateman, Justin Long, Ann-Margret and Vincent D'Onofrio.
Cult Fact: Vince Vaughn weighs 12-13 pounds more than normal in the film. He had gained weight since he had stopped smoking just before recording.
Many good actors even in other roles: Joey Lauren Adams, Cole Hauser, Judy David, Jon Favreau, Jason Bateman, Justin Long, Ann-Margret and Vincent D'Onofrio.
Cult Fact: Vince Vaughn weighs 12-13 pounds more than normal in the film. He had gained weight since he had stopped smoking just before recording.
Rear Window
(1954)
One of Hitchcock's best
11 July 2013
The first film I saw by the British director. And it's a gruesomely dramatic Hitchcock movie. James Stewart (1908-1997) plays a photographer who has broken his leg. From his New York apartment he scouts the neighbors and believes himself to be a witness to a murder. Two female friends - played by Grace Kelly (1928-1982) and Thelma Ritter (1905-1969) - helps him solve the case. The film received four Oscar nominations, including best screenplay and directing, but did not win in any of the classes. Still counted as one of the director's best films. When it was filmed, it was filmed entirely indoors at Paramount Studios, this was the largest studio building ever in Hollywood. Cult Fact: This was the only film where Grace Kelly was smoking a cigarette. She refused to do it on any other film.
Spider-Man
(2002)
Film Action with heart
10 July 2013
Director Sam Raimi has really managed to turn the comic to film action with a big heart and just the right feel for the genre.
Tobey Maguire, a bit woody, benefit from it in the role of the bespectacled nerd who becomes superhero.
Kirsten Dunst radiates a kind of cute sensuality in the role of a girl next door who he loves. And Willem Dafoe overshoot well as the charismatic villain Green Goblin.
Admittedly, some action scenes is furiously skillfully made, but the fourth plus absent, sometimes it's a little too much computer games feeling of the film.
Was followed by two films with the same actor/director.
Tobey Maguire, a bit woody, benefit from it in the role of the bespectacled nerd who becomes superhero.
Kirsten Dunst radiates a kind of cute sensuality in the role of a girl next door who he loves. And Willem Dafoe overshoot well as the charismatic villain Green Goblin.
Admittedly, some action scenes is furiously skillfully made, but the fourth plus absent, sometimes it's a little too much computer games feeling of the film.
Was followed by two films with the same actor/director.
Machete
(2010)
Grotesque black humor
9 July 2013
A crazy screwed action comedy by Robert Rodriguez, the renowned supporting role actor Danny Trejo in the lead role. He plays a former cop who ends up at war with the drug mafia in the border region between the U.S. and Mexico.
Bizarre scenes of violence and lots of famous names - Robert De Niro, Lindsay Lohan, Steven Seagal, Don Johnson, Jessica Alba - in quirky supporting roles.
The film began as a playful pretend trailer for Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino's "Grindhouse" project, the films "Planet Terror" and "Death Proof." "Machete" is made in the same bit untidy 1970s Style.
Everything is exaggerated, from the violence that is a bloodbath, the image of women (all look like pinups), the popularity of political satire and the grotesque black humor.
Bizarre scenes of violence and lots of famous names - Robert De Niro, Lindsay Lohan, Steven Seagal, Don Johnson, Jessica Alba - in quirky supporting roles.
The film began as a playful pretend trailer for Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino's "Grindhouse" project, the films "Planet Terror" and "Death Proof." "Machete" is made in the same bit untidy 1970s Style.
Everything is exaggerated, from the violence that is a bloodbath, the image of women (all look like pinups), the popularity of political satire and the grotesque black humor.
Tomorrow Never Dies
(1997)
Film without Bond feeling
8 July 2013
Pierce Brosnan is tough, sexy and has a twinkle in his eye, the third-best 007 after Sean Connery and Daniel Craig. But this movie is much worse than "Goldeneye", his first Bond movie. Thin screenplay about a media moguls (Jonathan Pryce) attempts to control the world by creating a war between Britain and China so that his new TV channel have something spectacular to report.
Michelle Yeoh is a colorful and cool Bond girl, but Teri Hatcher, from the TV series "Desperate Housewives", does not add much in the role as the media moguls wife. Most boring of all, James Bond is so little James Bond, he is like any action hero out there. But at the phone manufacturer Ericsson they will party hard. The film's best scene is a car chase where 007 steers his BMW with the help of a remote control built in... well, you can guess what kind of phone.
Michelle Yeoh is a colorful and cool Bond girl, but Teri Hatcher, from the TV series "Desperate Housewives", does not add much in the role as the media moguls wife. Most boring of all, James Bond is so little James Bond, he is like any action hero out there. But at the phone manufacturer Ericsson they will party hard. The film's best scene is a car chase where 007 steers his BMW with the help of a remote control built in... well, you can guess what kind of phone.
The Company You Keep
(2012)
Robert Redford plays a lawyer on the run.
18 January 2013
In the 1970s, they were part of a radical left movement, Weather underground. Now, they live ordinary family life with secret identities. Today, they are still wanted by the police after a bank robbery in which a guard was shot dead. At the start of the film a woman get arrested from the movement. She was just about to submit herself - why the police found her now and what it means for the others hiding in different ways?
Shia LaBeouf plays a journalist who reviews the case and manages to stay one step ahead of the police.
Robert Redford plays the second lead role. A lawyer who becomes suspicious and travels around the U.S. to find those who can testify about what really happened. He has made an exciting, tight and well played movie about commitment, politics and journalism. Very seeing actors in supporting roles. The mix of journalism, politics and nerve reminiscent of 70s classics like "All the President's men".
Shia LaBeouf plays a journalist who reviews the case and manages to stay one step ahead of the police.
Robert Redford plays the second lead role. A lawyer who becomes suspicious and travels around the U.S. to find those who can testify about what really happened. He has made an exciting, tight and well played movie about commitment, politics and journalism. Very seeing actors in supporting roles. The mix of journalism, politics and nerve reminiscent of 70s classics like "All the President's men".
Borat
(2006)
The reporter Borat visits the United States
11 January 2013
A twisted, funny and controversial comedy with Sacha Baron Cohen as Borat, a naive TV reporter from Kazakhstan. The character had previously been in skits on his television show.
The film caused huge stir. In the opening scenes of Borat he talks about his home village, and politicians in Kazakhstan thought it was a horrible and terrible caricature of their country. When Borat arrives in the USA, however, the film is rather an accurate and wicked satire about today's western lifestyle.
And in Kazakhstan, the emotions calmed down. The film has actually placed the country on the world map ...
The British comedian has followed up the success of two other funny movies that sometimes are in the same crazy style, "Brüno" and "The Dictator".
The film caused huge stir. In the opening scenes of Borat he talks about his home village, and politicians in Kazakhstan thought it was a horrible and terrible caricature of their country. When Borat arrives in the USA, however, the film is rather an accurate and wicked satire about today's western lifestyle.
And in Kazakhstan, the emotions calmed down. The film has actually placed the country on the world map ...
The British comedian has followed up the success of two other funny movies that sometimes are in the same crazy style, "Brüno" and "The Dictator".
Simple Simon
(I) (2010)
About brothers friendship
28 December 2012
A warm, funny and emotional story of 18-year-old Simon (Bill Skarsgård), who has Asperger's Syndrome and want life to be punctuated exactly the same day after day, week after week. It includes everything from meals to activities. He shares the apartment with the more boisterous brother Sam (Martin Wallström), but when his girlfriend (Sophie Hamilton) breaks up, Simons life crashes together. His habitual security is gone. He needs to find a new girlfriend for his brother. How do you do? Can you have a girlfriend audition for his brother? May sound a little weird, but ... the filmmakers stitch together all the different elements to a mixture of romantic comedy drama about two brothers, friendship and warm description of an outsider. With Cecilia Forss in a colorful supporting role. The film was Sweden's Oscar nomination and was almost nominated. It was eliminated at the finish line. Director Andreas Öhman's other film "Bitch Hug" was on the cinema this fall.
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